Farewell Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach

Actually, I’m going to miss seeing our very own Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach in the official Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages of Miss Universe. I think she was one of the most down-to-earth, fun-to-be-with type of beauty queen the Miss Universe franchise ever had; or maybe I’m just biased.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is obviously of Filipino-German descent who was and still is an actress, TV host and model. She was born in Stuttgart, Germany to a German father and Filipino mother, but grew up in Cagayan de Oro. Since age four, she’s already been in the entertainment industry – acting, singing and dancing – through ABS-CBN Corporation’s talent agency, Star Magic.

The best thing you can know of our Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is that she joined the Philippine’s version, Binibining Pilipinas Pageant, three consecutive times before winning the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title. The rest is history, especially when Miss Universe 2015 host Steve Harvey misread the results and mistakenly announced the winner as Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez.

And this is probably the best video I’ve seen Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach do so far – quirky, fun, and just being herself.

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Sources: Facebook | Wikipedia

Video from source.

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Wil Dasovich and Japeth Aguilar Kicks-off Gillette Mach3 10 vs. 1 Battle

I was invited to the official launch of the 10 vs. 1 Battles of the most popular razor blades since time-a-memorial – meaning since I started shaving. It used to be we’d buy Gillette blades, pesky little stuff that sometimes results in cuts, and insert that in heavy-metal shavers. Then, Gillette came out with the disposable and life never became the same.

Wil Dasovich is a funny guy on YouTube, using the moniker “Tsong and Tsonggo”, which started on November 2014. Today, his YouTube channel boasts more than 230,000 subscribers and 30 million views. Wow! Talk about just two years! And his sister’s cute, too (adorable Haley Dasovich). Aww! How can you resist a cutie?

Anyway… also appearing last November 6th at the 10 vs. 1 Battle was Filipino professional basketball player of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Japeth Aguilar, all 6-foot, 9-inches tall – Yikes! Together, Wil Dasovich and Japeth Aguilar kicked off the Gillette Mach3 launch of the 10 vs. 1 Battle where the point being driven was: it takes 10 good shaves before 1 Gillette Mach3 gives out.

Unboxing the Gillette Mach3

I shave every other day because I have a tendency of getting razor burn if I did it every day. It was funny that during the event, some of the people I talked to didn’t really know how to shave properly. Ever heard the phrase “shaving against the grain?” Also known as “shaving against the direction of hair growth.” Yep! Most people do not know that doing so is the fastest way to get razor burn, damaged hair follicles and ingrown hairs. So, now you know!

There was a video that was shown to everyone in the activity area where Wil Dasovich was shaving – always downwards; meaning, shaving with the grain, so to speak. Then, I heard someone beside me say in Filipino, “Why doesn’t he shave upwards like I do? Or like how they do it in the barber shop?” Buzz! Do that every day and the chance of your chin and neck swelling like a ripe tomato will come to bear fruit! Get it? Bear fruit?

I also “try” to shave without water and shaving cream. For many of the non-Gillette brands, I have to use either. With the double-bladed Gillettes, I sometimes don’t, but only sometimes. With Gillette Mach3, I tried shaving without water or shaving cream. The first time I did so – WOW! It was a smooth ride, or a smooth feeling. I did not experience any single hair being pulled out (“Ouch!”), which usually happens when you use one blade or most of the generic two-bladed disposable shavers. But the Gillette Mach3? None whatsoever. The best test of a good shaver is a dry shave, and you should get the feel of its smoothness, not a rough sensation.

I was given a kit with the shaver plus three more detachable blades which, by doing the math, would provide me a great shave for the next three months or exactly 80 days. With other disposable shavers, I already feel the roughness by the third or fourth shave. The Gillette Mach3 kit given to me also came with a shaving cream but I don’t even know if I’m ever going to use that, what with the smooth shaving feeling I get with the Mach3 on a dry shave.

This is not a paid endorsement. Fine, considering I was given the Gillette Mach3 set for free, I think of it like an “unboxing” activity when tech bloggers are given gadgets to test. I can’t imagine giving back my Gillette Mach3 kit after I use it. Super LOL! So, trust me when I say you’ll save more buying this dang Gillette Mach3 kit than getting that rough feeling with your cheap, disposable, double-bladed shaver, and buying too much, too often. Egad! Don’t even think of getting a single-blade; and please tell your barber to stop shaving “against the grain,” now that you know (or else, “I told you so!”)

So Wil Dasovich and Japeth Aguilar does it right, shows it right, and makes it right by partnering with Gillette Mach3. So far, nothing does a better, smoother shave than it. It being the Gillette Mach3.

Oh, and Joyce Pring was the host of the Gillette Mach3 10 vs. 1 Battle at Eastwood City Mall that November 6th afternoon. I also just had to mention her. Another LOL!

‘Nuff said.

Here are the specs for you shaving nerds:

Gillette Mach3

1. The Gillette Mach3 is Gillette’s most advanced Thin Uniform Telomer (TUT) coating on the blade steel to engineer a closer shave, without all the redness;
2. The Gillette Mach3 has a skin guard with 5 soft, flexible microfins that gently stretch the skin before the blades for improved skin comfort and less irritation;
3. Each blade resting on springs, which move up and down as they automatically adjust to different levels of shaving pressure and skin variations, helping to increase the comfort of the shave;
4. A front pivot, which directs the force from the hand away from the blades for improved skin comfort and creates an open cartridge architecture for easier rinsing;
5. An ergonomic handle featuring elastomer grip points to provide a secure grip and great control in wet conditions.

Gillette Mach3 Turbo

1. The Gillette Mach3 Turbo (which I got) has sharper Turbo cutting blades;
2. The Gillette MACH3 Turbo has 30% wider versus the lubrastrips on other MACH3 razors and releasing more lubricants during the shave for increased glide;
3. The Gillette MACH3 Turbo has a new shape with a rounder, more even profile that gives better skin contact, and holds a new formulation with more “cushioning” lubricants;
4. The Gillette MACH3 Turbo has a skin guard with 10 soft, flexible microfins that gently stretch the skin before the blades for improved skin comfort and less irritation;
5. Each blade on the Gillette MACH3 Turbo rests on springs, which move up and down as they automatically adjust to different levels of shaving pressure and skin variations, helping to increase the comfort of the shave;
6. A front pivot on the Gillette MACH3 Turbo, which directs the force from the hand away from the blades for improved skin comfort and creates an open cartridge architecture for easier rinsing
7. The Gillette MACH3 Turbo has an ergonomic, metal handle with a premium look and feel. Features elastomer grip points to provide a secure grip and great control in wet conditions.

Gillette MACH3 Sensitive

1. The Gillette MACH3 Sensitive has a closer shave with less irritation*, even for sensitive skin;
2. The Gillette MACH3 Sensitive has new DuraComfort blades, Gillette’s most advanced Thin Uniform Telomer (TUT) coating on the blades for a more comfortable shave, and an enhanced lubrastrip releases more lubricants to help with better glide, less irritation and a more comfortable shave;
3. The Gillette MACH3 Sensitive has a skin guard with 10 soft, flexible microfins that gently stretch the skin before the blades for improved skin comfort and less irritation;
4. Each blade of the Gillette MACH3 Sensitive rests on springs, which move up and down as they automatically adjust to different levels of shaving pressure and skin variations, helping to increase the comfort of the shave;
5. A front pivot of the Gillette MACH3 Sensitive, which directs the force from the hand away from the blades for improved skin comfort and creates an open cartridge architecture for easier rinsing;
6. The Gillette MACH3 Sensitive has an ergonomic, metal handle with a new, premium look and feel. Features elastomer grip points to provide a secure grip and great control in wet conditions.

About Gillette

You may visit their Facebook Page via www.facebook.com/GillettePhilippines.

Gillette Mach3 is a product of Procter & Gamble. P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, AmbiPur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®,Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Joy®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Safeguard®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

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Source: Press release from Campaigns & Gray.

Photos from @raffypekson and Wikimedia.

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British American Tobacco’s Vype Launches the Ultimate Vape in the Philippines

Bank Bar is a discrete afterhours place in the heart of Bonifacio Global City. Discrete in the sense that you literally have to enter a 7-Eleven convenience store before entering a door without a sign, into a nondescript room, and through the curtains to reveal the bar. Inside and fronting the probably 60 or so square meter place was the registration table where bloggers like myself had to write down contact details.

This was the media launch of British American Tobacco’s Vype ePen ultimate vape product, following its successful launch in Europe and South America. But here’s the thing: isn’t British American Tobacco also the makers and distributors of Lucky Strike?

I’m a smoker and shifted to Luckies long before the enormous tax imposed by the Philippine government on all tobacco products. I asked the people of British American Tobacco why are they launching a vape product when they also make cigarettes? Probably to target quitting smokers to shift to vape rather than go cold turkey. Maybe. Read more.

I call Vype the ultimate vape product simply because it isn’t your usual vape product. Ultimate because not only smokers like myself hate vape smokers blowing vapor-smoke like a chimney stack of a diesel-powered power generator, as if they think people around them don’t get annoyed because “Hey! It ain’t smelling cigarettes.” Yeah, right. Ugh!

But Vype is different. I think it was designed primarily for the real smokers who’d like to try vaping without looking like a steam-powered train (wreak!) Haha!

First, it looks like a fat pen; hence, the “ePen” label. Not the size of a cigarette case or a bulky cell phone. A pen.

Second, it’s sleek design is colored black. Well, I got a black colored Vype. I’m not sure if here are other colors. Pink for women? Who knows. And I’m always wondering why all vape products are colored silver, as if when we go broke, we might be able to sell its metal.

Third, no more spilling liquids while refilling your vape machine that’s as fat as your cell phone. Vype has refillable small tubes or vials which you insert, twist and that’s it. The vial is thinner than a Bic ball pen tube and is as short (or shorter) than your pinky finger.

Fourth, the Vype ePen disassembles into two parts, not three nor four. Just two. When you disassemble it, that’s when you insert and twist your refillable liquid.

During the event, I won a contest for disassembling the Vype, removing the small cap on the vial, inserting and twisting the vial into the Vype, then assembling the Vype back as one – all done within seven seconds! Can you do that with those fat, silver vape products?

Fifth, no batteries required. Since we are in the era of charging every tech equipment we have, why not charge your vape product? It only takes two hours to fully charge a dead Vype; dead meaning no power. There’s always a 99% chance you could charge your Vype – electrical outlets, portable power banks, computers, televisions, and a whole caboodle of other charging resources available. Finally!

And lastly, you smoke it like it was a cigarette, not a cigar. Geez! If I wanted to puff that much smoke like a cigar, I’d just buy a real cigar. Just think about it! You’re about to try to quit nicotine-cigarette smoking by shifting to vaping yet the feeling of smoking becomes… umm… monstrous! Vype let’s you inhale vapor like it was a cigarette and exhale like a cigarette. No more annoying fire-breathing smoke that envelops the next five people beside you.

Yeah, I think British American Tobacco got it! It just got the real way to shift from cigarette smoking to vaping. No more “Made in China” vape products or God-knows-where those other dang vape products are manufactured from. I mean, you’re using a product from one of the world’s five largest tobacco companies, with cigarette products sold in over 50 countries and operations in around 180 countries, and known brands such as Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Kent, Pall Mall, Kool, Benson & Hedges and Rothman, among others. Need I say more?

Slogans like “Vaping Made Simple” and “Switching Has Never Been Easier” truly voices Vype, no doubt about it. Simple and easier – I like those words because they truly are what makes Vype a great vaping product.

How much, you ask? ₱1,199 for the Vype Starter Kit that comes with two vials or eCaps (another term) with flavors labeled “Blended Tobacco” and “Crisp Mint,” and ₱499 for a refill pack that contains three ePens or eCaps; confusing so I just call them vials. LOL!

Where do I buy it? At about 100 branches of 7-Eleven convenience stores to start with. The British American Tobacco Philippine people say there will be more places to sell it.

So, trust me as a smoker who has now (probably) found the better or best vape product to shift to. I think British American Tobacco was thinking of me when they developed Vype. Hmm?

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About Next Generation Products

Next Generation Products is part of British American Tobacco Group, focused on developing and delivering high quality nicotine alternatives to adult smokers in the key areas of: Vapor and Tobacco Heating Products.

About British American Tobacco Group

British American Tobacco is a global tobacco Group with brands sold in more than 200 markets. It employs more than 50,000 people worldwide and has over 200 brands in its portfolio, with its cigarettes chosen by one in eight of the world’s one billion smokers.

For more information, please visit www.govype.com.

Sources: Press release from British American Tobacco Philippines (and my story)

Photos by @raffypekson and British American Tobacco Philippines

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The Wonderful World of GCash beep MasterCard

I’ve lived my previous life – the corporate life – filled with credit cards. Unfortunately for a guy who’s lived most of his life under the financial tutelage of his parents and, thirty years later, his wife, managing credit card debt ultimately became an ongoing struggle and ultimately, a disaster.

Enter debit cards that can act as a credit card.

Since 2006, I’ve been using my debit cards as my credit card – to buy over-the-counter or online. The only difference is the entire amount is deducted from your savings or checking account of the debit card. It’s like an ATM transaction without going to the ATM, and an alternative to an ATM transaction without the need to enter your 4- or 6-digit PIN in front of the cashier.

In fact, I’ve used my debit cards in the United States, from your typical restaurant transaction to going to a Wells Fargo ATM machine and getting cash. I learned from this experience that my daily limit was $400. Not bad.

Here’s something else that I realize I could do with my debit card – I can deposit just enough should I need to transaction online. I know many of you fear that unshakable feeling of identity theft or online scams which stops you from the convenience of buying online. You’d rather just spend money traveling to the place to buy your thing, waste your precious time and even push the limits of your patience in crowded malls and stores. So, instead of doing that, I deposit just enough for the online transaction and leave nickels and dimes that digital thieves can party on. LOL!

But the biggest benefit to me is not having to add and manage credit card debt and not having to spend more than I should. My good friend and personal finance guru Randell Tiongson has told on and on never to spend beyond my means. If that’s the case, then cut your ties with your credit cards and start using debit cards with credit card logos like Visa and MasterCard.

Enter the GCash beep MasterCard.

All of the above I’ve mentioned plus you can use it at the MRT and LRT in Metro Manila. Woot! GCash beep MasterCard is the first value-added card to be beep ready. Since the start of September 2015, GCash started selling GCash beep MasterCard in parallel with the expansion of the tap payment facilities in various MRT/LRT stations. beep is the authorized reloadable electronic payment under the unified LRT/MRT ticket system which started full implementation on October last year. It is operated by AF Payments Incorporated primarily owned by Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

Last December, I used my GCash beep MasterCard at a Christmas bazaar in One Esplanade, SM Central Business Park, Seaside corner Bay Boulevard, Pasay City. Something unusual about this bazaar was that most of the booths and sellers were credit-card ready, some even being GCash ready. For the latter type of sellers, it was like an ATM transaction where I just had to enter my 4-digit PIN while the former was your everyday, normal credit card transaction.

I’m sure you know what Lazada is. I even have its smartphone app installed in my Kata M2L LTE Android phone. Well, starting April last year, GCASH can be used as a mode of payment in Lazada’s eCommerce website through an open integrated mWallet platform. Through mWallet, Globe customers no longer need to own a credit card or even have a bank account to engage in eCommerce. Instead, they can turn their mobile phone into a virtual wallet to shop at the speed of a text message. Lazada has over 15,000 merchants, and 1.4 million active customers and is currently valued at US$1.2 billion with US$700 million of investment funding. It has an online footprint of approximately 4 million daily visits to its websites and the largest Facebook following in Southeast Asia with over 12 million fans.

Here’s another one – you can now fund your or anyone else’s GCash account at any 7-Eleven store as well as enjoy speed, ease, and safety when it comes to money transfer services. Together with 7-Eleven, cash-in transactions definitely becomes convenient.

And my GCash beep MasterCard is connected to Globe prepaid phone. I can shuffle funds between prepaid load and my GCash account. I can send funds to another GCash account (like paying my friend the P10,000 I owed him). I can either go to an authorized outlet like Globe stores and deposit cash in my GCash account or simply buy prepaid cards to load into my Globe prepaid account and transfer that amount to my GCash account. I can even go online and check on my balance and transaction histories; or download the GCash smartphone app and do the same thing minus a laptop or desktop browser. And some these features need not be constrained in the Philippines because it’s a MasterCard, right?

To get a GCash Mastercard, simply visit a GCash Mastercard caravan nationwide, get a GCash account, activate the GCash Mastercard account by linking it to a user’s Globe/TM number, and fund the GCash wallet via GCash outlets, Bancnet ATMs, GCash app, or online bank transfer. Users can also apply for a card online which they can pick up at select Globe stores. To know more, visit www.GetGCashMC.com.

For further information, visit www.globe.com.ph/gcash.

Source: Globe Telecom press releases

Photos from @raffypekson and Globe Telecom.

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Hong Kong Experience

A young blogger with an awesome story about her Hong Kong trip. A must read!

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Mazda Philippines and Zalora Launch Mark Bumgarner Fashion Collection

Big question – why is the country’s leading online fashion house partnering with a Japanese automotive brand to introduce a fashion designer’s collection? Fine. Let me try to answer that in five whooping paragraphs. Ready?

Zalora and Mazda Philippines collaborated to introduce and showcase the latest fashion collection from local fashion designer Mark Bumgarner known as “M2 by Mark Bumgarner.” This one-of-a-kind collection is inspired by the KODO design philosophy of Mazda, translated in English as “Soul of Motion,” representing both the power and elegance of a wild animal in the instant when it pounces on a prey. Mazda’s vision of “Motion Form” is what the M2 by Mark Bumgarner fashion collection tries to embody, a philosophy and essence that can be experienced from the line of Mazda vehicles. It’s like wearing the M2 fashion collection takes its cue from the design and character of both worlds – cars and fashion. Together, these opposing worlds create a new meaning and experience in every piece of the M2 fashion collection. Mark Bumgarner is creating 100 percent handmade, Prêt-à-Porter (or ready-to-wear) pieces to the fashion collection that highlights the unity between fashion and automobile.

Did you know that Mark Bumgarner was once a race car driver
before he became a fashion designer?

What more can you ask a fashion designer like Mark Bumgarner when at the age of seven, he was already driving Go Karts and participated in races starting at age of eight. Mark joined the Ford Lynx Cup Touring Cars Novice Class and came out 3rd overall. From then on, he represented the Philippines in karting races such as the Macau Karting Gran Prix Formula A Class, Skip Barber Regional and National series, and the Rock Island Gran Prix, to name a few. It was his sister Michelle Bumgarner who introduced him to the world of fashion, besides being herself a famous Filipina racer, too, who in 2014 joined the Pro Mazda Championship full-time, racing for World Speed Motorsports Team. So, cars and fashion have always been in the blood veins of the Bumgarner siblings and coming out with the M2 by Mark Bumgarner fashion collection inspired by the Mazda2 SKYACTIV series didn’t seem to be a difficult choice, much more a challenging decision.

Zalora has been tagged as Asia’s online fashion destination, bringing in the hottest items from local and international runways straight to the customer’s doorsteps. It’s a one stop online destination for everything fashion in the Philippines, bringing fashion insights on global trends. It constantly tracks the latest fashion trends and provides fashion tips and advice to allow its customers to shop with more confidence. Zalora Philippines is operated by Jade 1297 GmbH who is represented by BF Jade E-Services.

The all-new Mazda2 SKYACTIV recently won the 2014-2015 Japan Car of the Year award and will be made available in the Philippines staring this month. It is what Mark Bumgarner used as inspiration in creating his M2 by Mark Bumgarner fashion collection. The Mazda2 SKYACTIV draws on the experience of its critically acclaimed and award-winning Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-5 and MX-5 to create a sub-compact car that redefines everyone’s expectations completely. Combining the full-range of SKYACTIV Technology (engine, transmission, body and chassis) and the KODO Soul of Motion design philosophy into the all-new Mazda2 – delivering performance, fuel-efficiency and driving pleasure without compromise.

The M2 by Mark Bumgarner fashion collection, together with the Mazda2 SKYACTIV car models, will be showcased at the Zalora Philippines Pop-Up Store in Shangri-La EDSA Plaza mall from July 28 up to August 2. The fashion collection will be available for sale online starting July 29.

For more information, please visit www.zalora.com.ph/Mazda and www.mazda.ph.

Sources: Zalora Philippines | Mazda Philippines | PhilipAbadicio.com | Mark Bumgarner Facebook Page | Wikipedia

Video and photos by @raffypekson

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Best Travel Photographer Contest Launched by AirAsia and Nikon

AirAsia in cooperation with ThinkDharma Inc., the exclusive distributor of Nikon cameras, got together to launch the first AirAsia Travel Photographer for 2015. Four newbie photographers and office workers will be coached and assisted by multi-awarded photographers from the Philippines and Malaysia as they all travel across Asia for one week starting July 21, 2015.

AirAsia Philippines Chairperson Maan Hontiveros was present during Thursday’s event held at the function rooms of ActiveFun in Bonifacio Global City. She introduced the four mentors and coaches of the contest, namely:

George Tapan – a self-taught photographer, Tapan served as director of photography of Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Magazine for eight years, won the ASEAN Tourism Association Award in 1999, won the gold prize for Pacific Asia Tourism Association twice, and first place in the Places Category for the National Geographic Photo Contest in 2011.

Christian Raymond Cruz – a graphic designer and one of the pioneers of landscape photography in the Philippines, also a self-taught photographer who spent the last seven years traveling the country and the world to capture the best nature scenery, and spends time sharing his knowledge and experience under the Redefining Vision Landscape Photography Workshops.

Philip Anthonie (Parc) Cruz – started as a hobbyist photographer in 2005, Cruz spent a lot of time tagging along with other photographers until he found his niche – portraits and cinematic shots. He is a privileged part of Nikon’s pool of endorsers and has since traveled around the Philippines and the world while imparting and encouraging other photo hobbyists to develop their creativity through visual images.

Adam Lee – an award-winning portrait and travel photographer who was trained in Los Angeles, he spent the last seven years assisting organizations to use photography as a means to tell stories and build communities. Lee is AirAsia’s resident photographer who contributes a large portion of his work to the airline’s in-flight magazine, marketing and communications, social media and brand management. Lee has won three silver awards and two honorable mentions in the Prix de la Photographie Paris 2014 competition and awarded the 27th ASEANTA Award of Excellence for Best Asean Tourism Photo in 2013.

The selected newbie photographers who will partner with these four photography masters are:

Marie Velvet Lagman-Macasaet – Marie is 36-year old an Executive Assistant to the SVP and Country Manager of VXI Global Solutions and mom to a 5-year old boy named Paco. She recently finished a half-marathon and bathing in an onsen (Japanese hot spring) while backpacking in Tokyo. She enjoys hiking, trekking and scuba diving. She is partnered with Coach Adam Lee.

Sarah T. Garcia – Sarah is a Front Office Agent at the Lancaster Hotel n Madaluyong City and loves to eat, love everything extraordinary and loves art. She is partnered with Coach George Tapan.

Paul Vincent Delfin – Paul is a Barista of Starbucks at the Greenbelt 3 branch. He’s into Indie music, loves football and loves long trips. He is an eager photography enthusiast as a form of art. He is partnered with Coach Parc Cruz.

Antonio Nepomuceno III – a marketing professional of Toyota in Taytay, Rizal, he is definitely a car enthusiast who is outgoing and loves the company of people, a necessity for his type of job. He is partnered with Coach Raymond Cruz.

Each team will be traveling around some exotic places in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to help everyone capture their best entries in categories that include landscape, food, portrait, architecture and travel. Winners will be awarded with over 200,000 BIG Points, AirAsia’s global loyalty program, or its equivalent free flights to any of AirAsia’s 100 destinations.

Online voting through www.airasiatravelphotographer.com will be opened to the public starting August 20, 2015 with Nikon cameras and BIG Points to be given away to lucky voters. The grand winner will be announced on September 11, 2015.

During the launch, AirAsia and Nikon drew lots to pick four lucky bloggers who will accompany each team in their respective trips to Asian destinations. My colleague in the Philippine Bloggers Network or PBNet Edel Santiago of The Kitchen Goddess blog won a spot among the four chosen bloggers.

Source: Press release – Manila, 16 July 2015

All photos by @raffypekson

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Reader’s Digest Votes SM Supermalls Best Mall

Reader’s Digest, the book Baby Boomers and Generation X-ers grew up with, has again cited SM Supermalls as the most valued and preferred shopping mall brands in the Philippines for the fourth year in a row. SM Supermalls was awarded the Platinum Trusted Brand in the Shopping Center category last June 30, 2015 under the annual Trusted Brands Survey conducted by Reader’s Digest.

SM Supermalls is the largest shopping center operator in the Philippines, providing shopping, dining and entertainment options to millions of shoppers daily in over 50 malls in the Philippines and six in China. Delivering the ultimate in family fun mall experience is the brand promise of SM Supermalls and it partners with the best local and global retailers.

SM Supermalls, owned by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and was started by Henry Sy, Sr. in 1958 as Shoemart, with a store in Manila. In the 1960s Shoemart expanded its shoe store chain. It is one of the pioneers in the new urban centers in Makati and Cubao. By the 1970s, Shoemart was a full-line department store, shifting its name from Shoemart to SM. In the 1980s, the company diversified and ventured into the supermarket and home appliance store business. It opened the first “Supermall” store in 1985 in Quezon City called SM City North EDSA.

Read more about it at EPR Retail News.

Title photo via wikimedia.org.

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Distrito Makati is a New Weekday Lifestyle Market

From the organizers of Mercato Centrale comes Distrito Makati

From the same organizers of the famed Mercato brand of night market of food, fashion and other products comes one right by your neighborhood in Makati. Heck! Even the patients at adjacent Makati Medical Center can opt to dine in its comfortable, well-ventilated environment if they’re sick and tired of hospital food. And free wi-fi, too!

They opened Friday last week or “Black Friday” as Americans call it.

Remember that open parking lot right beside the Makati Medical Center at the end of Amorsolo Street, or ending up at Ayala Avenue? Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night, starting at 9:00pm, they open Distrito Makati to offer some tasty meals as well as fashion, beauty, wellness and household products. The market ends at three o’clock in the morning.

If you are interested to become a concessionaire for Distrito Makati, please email the organizers at admin@distritomakati.com or text 09178401152.

Source: Mercato Centrale

Image from Mercato Centrale

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Something is Brewing in Greenhills

View of Greenhills Shopping Center from the roofdeck carpark

When someone wants to buy fake shoes, bags, shirts, watches, clothes, heck! Almost everything you’d imagine to be a copy. But there’s a transformation brewing inside Greenhills Shopping Center, hopefully to decongest the nighmarish traffic and improve its reputation for providing things beyond fake items.

I came across an e-mail from my high school alma mater’s (La Salle Green Hills) alumni association where it was encouraging members to invest in one of the four high-rise condominiums inside the shopping complex, in return for a portion of the list price being donated to the association’s projects like the adult night school, scholarship funds and outreach programs.

I didn’t know that for 80 years, Ortigas and Company has been developing prestigious communities such as Greenhills subdivisions, Greenmeadows and Valle Verde. There are newer development projects like the Luntala Valle Verde, Ortigas. However, Greenhills Shopping Center has been a melting pot of different religions, races and views for the past decades, and has been a hub for bargain hunters and value-shoppers, so to speak. Today, it is undergoing a redevelopment plan that hopes to transform itself into a complete live, work and play community.

The plan calls for doubling the shopping space that will enhance the “tiangge” shopping style while allowing for a wider array of well-known fashion and lifestyle brands. This will be supported by improvements in the entertainment corridor that includes more dining options, as well as cinemas that showcase the latest in digital technology. In the middle of these, the plan calls for bringing back the community gathering place feel, like the Avenida de Ortigas and the Spanish Steps. An underground parking is under development, to be operational by December this year. And soon, enjoy life in a more personal way at Viridian, the first luxury condominium to rise in Greenhills Shopping Center.

And so the saying goes, “A picture paints a thousand words.”

“Greenhills, I’m looking forward to this awesome transformation!”

Top title photo by elaineverri at Flickr.com

Other images and photos are the property of the La Salle Green Hills Alumni Association (LSGHAA) and GH Heritage Realty Inc.

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The redevelopment plan of Greenhills Shopping Center

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More shopping, dining and entertainment choices

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Artist's perspective of the redevelopment plans

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Some actual photographs

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